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Pediatric care
Pediatric audiologists must fit hearing aids for infants early and efficiently. While selecting, coupling, and maintaining hearing aids require specialized solutions for infants and children, teens also need unique support as they navigate their hearing journey. Phonak offers resources and tools to help audiologists provide the best care for young patients.
Latest pediatric audiology blog posts
Explore the latest clinical best practices and cutting-edge hearing technologies designed to help children excel both in the classroom and at home.
Noise reduction in children’s hearing aids
This article on the Phonak Audiology Blog explains why children need stronger signal-to-noise (SNR) support than adults, and why that need is greatest for children with hearing loss. Learn about a new consensus publication that helps guide evidence-based noise management decisions beyond the classroom.
Best practice in pediatric fittings: Improving wearing time
New insights from Big Data reveal how theory and practice align to help children wear their hearing aids longer and achieve better outcomes.
VCLASS: Evaluating and monitoring listening difficulties in classrooms
The Vanderbilt Classroom Listening Assessment Short Survey is a picture-based questionnaire that specifically targets perceived listening abilities in school-based situations to help clinicians understand and support listening challenges in noisy school environments.
Phonak Pediatric Focus Series
Authored by experts from the Phonak Pediatric Advisory Board, the Pediatric Focus Series shares best-practice considerations for pediatric care
Pediatric Focus 1
Considering directional microphone use in pediatric hearing aid fittings
Pediatric Focus 2
Finding the right fit: Pediatric hearing aid coupling options for children
Pediatric Focus 3
Hearing aid prescription and fine-tuning: The basics of preferred practices
Pediatric Focus 4
Noise reduction in children’s hearing aids: Evidence-based solutions.
Evidence-based pediatric protocols
Clinical protocols serve as best-practice guidelines for accurate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention in pediatric audiology. These latest protocols, highlighted by experts at the 2024 A Sound Foundation Through Early Amplification conference, are compiled here for quick reference.
Covering key areas such as Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR), and amplification, these resources support consistent, high-quality hearing care for infants and young children.
Ontario Infant Hearing Program Amplification Protocol
Guidelines for amplification in infants and preschool-aged children with permanent hearing loss, including unilateral hearing loss
American Academy of Audiology Clinical Guidelines
Best-practice guidelines for pediatric hearing aid fitting, verification, and outcomes assessment
Health New Zealand Pediatric Audiology Protocol
Protocols for newborn hearing screening and early intervention in New Zealand
Ontario Infant Hearing Program ABR Protocol
Best practices for air- and bone-conducted ABR testing to ensure accurate diagnosis and timely intervention
British Society of Audiology ABR Protocol
Standardized guidelines for ABR testing in infants to support accurate diagnosis and intervention
British Society of Audiology ASSR Protocol
Guidance on ASSR testing to determine hearing thresholds in infants and young children
Featured tools and resources
Hearing aid fitting criteria for children with mild hearing loss
Ryan McCreery and colleagues explore evidence-based hearing aid fitting criteria for children with mild bilateral hearing loss. It provides guidance for clinicians to ensure appropriate amplification and intervention.
A communication tool to help families engage with care
The Childhood Hearing Loss Question Prompt List (QPL) is a communication aid created to encourage families to actively participate in discussions by inviting them to choose questions and topics they would like to discuss during an appointment.
It provides families the opportunity to ask about diagnosis and facilitates the process of decision making and making informed choices.
Survey to address listening challenges in children
Vanderbilt Classroom Listening Assessment Short Survey (VCLASS)
The VCLASS is designed to evaluate and track listening challenges in typical school-based situations, with both unaided and aided assessment options:
- Unaided Version – The student completes the survey without wearing hearing aids or other assistive devices. Access the online version here or download the printable PDF.
- Aided Version – The student completes the survey while considering their personal hearing devices, such as hearing aids, CROS, or cochlear implants. Access the online version here or download the printable PDF.
Upon completion of the online version, the survey automatically calculates scores, and clinicians can download a PDF of the completed form for review and documentation.
More interactive assessments
The interactive assessment tools can be completed on your computer by entering the required data in each field and the tools will then auto-calculate the results based on your entries. They can also be shared electronically with teachers or parents to fill out and return via e-mail.
Functional Listening Evaluation
The purpose of this evaluation is to determine how a patient's listening abilities are affected by noise, distance, and visual input in an individual's natural listening environment. By Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Ed.D.
Children's Auditory Performance Scale (CHAPS)
Use the CHAPS to systematically collect and quantify listening behaviors observed in children age seven and older. By Walter J. Smoski, Ph.D., Michael A. Brunt, Ph.D. & J. Curtis Tannahill, Ph.D.
Links
LittlEARS Questionnaire
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Speech test
The Ling-6 test is a quick and easy test that can be used to check a child’s access to the minimal amount of sounds required to hear, understand, and learn speech. The Ling-6 covers six speech sounds that range from low to high frequency. It can be used by professionals as well as parents.
Unilateral Hearing Loss
To advance the treatment approach for Unilateral Hearing Loss (UHL), Phonak brought together an international panel of experts to discuss best practices and made the following recommendations for children with UHL:
- Intervention by the age of 6 months is imperative as UHL can negatively impact a child’s development, including their speech understanding, cognition, and speech/language development.
- A variety of hearing technologies should be considered as part of early intervention for every child with UHL.
- Audiologists have an important role in providing support, information, and resources to families throughout their child’s hearing journey.
UHL publications
Research and journal articles
Explore Phonak’s extensive library comprised of publications and evidence related to Pediatric Audiology, including scientific research relevant to the field. Find more on the Phonak Evidence page.
